It’s already November, which means another month of reading comic books has already passed by - and what a good month it was! A few new series were released in October, as well as some series finales and surprise tie-ins to previous series. To honor the stories that have gone before us, I’ve reviewed five of my favorite reads from the month of October.
Transformers #1
I was hesitant to pick up this book, not because I thought it'd be bad, but because I didn't want to get sucked into yet another big universe of stories... but, I just couldn't help myself. Daniel Warren Johnson's and Mike Spicer's new series relaunches the Transformers in the new "Energon Universe," run by Robert Kirkman and Skybound Entertainment. The new Energon Universe will be a shared universe between the Transformers and GI Joe. Robert Kirkman is already well into his book Void Rivals, an original ongoing series about two mortal enemies who must band together to survive. Transformers #1 introduces us to some of the main characters in this series, Optimus Prime, Jetfire, Starscream, Soundwave, and others. While the story might seem familiar to those who have seen the shows or the original animated movie, this issue has a few shocking surprises along the way. Action-packed from beginning to end, this issue not only hooked me to this series but to the greater Energon Universe. After reading this issue, I picked up the back issues of Void Rivals, and let me tell you there is something special getting cooked up in these books. I'm excited by the possibilities of this new shared universe and look forward to the Duke and Cobra Commander mini-series coming in December and January.
Peacemaker Tries Hard #6 (last issue)
This mini-series has been nothin’ but fun from beginning to end. Kyle Starks might be the first writer to actually make me laugh out loud from reading a comic book. Starks manages to write dialogue that makes you feel like you’re watching an HBO show while introducing readers to underappreciated and even long-forgotten comic book characters in the DC universe such as the Demolition Team, Chemo, and the Red Bee. Issue six ended this mini-series perfectly, wrapping up all the loose ends and managing to fit almost every character from the series into the finale. This series has always been about elevating the "little guys," the unsung heroes, or even the oddball screwups. While the story of trying to save one's dog from an evil genius is a bit reductive of John Wick, the convention ultimately works to set Peacemaker apart as his own person because, unlike John Wick, Peacemaker doesn't want to go at it alone. Peacemaker tries really hard to be a good guy in this series, despite all his shortcomings and utter failures along the way. But through it all, Peacemaker makes new friends and allies who call him to something greater than himself. And he in return learns to do the same for them. This review would be impoverished without mentioning Steve Pugh and Jordie Bellaire whose artwork made this story come to life. Bellaire is starting to pop up on every book I buy, and I'm not upset about it in the least. She is certainly shaping up to be one of my favorite colorists.
Ghoul's Just Wanna Have Fun #1
There was one reason and one reason alone that I picked up this book, and his name is Javier Rodríguez! Seeing his name on a book, even if only for a few pages of story, is an instant guarantee that I’m going to pick up the book. Ghoul’s Just Wanna Have Fun is an anthology of Halloween/monster stories that showcases a variety of creative teams and casts of characters. The story I was interested in was “The Spoils” written by Greg Burnham, and it didn’t disappoint. Superman helps Louise Lane investigate an abandoned prison and ultimately confronts a ghost who holds a deadly secret. Javier Rodríguez nails the artwork, which makes you feel as if you're watching a classic monster movie. And that wasn’t the only story I enjoyed in this 80-page book. “Not Fade Away!” a Doom Patrol story by Alex Galer, Fabio Vera, and John Rauch featured a zany story about Robotman and how he manages his grief after decades of losing his best friends. I’ve been gravitating towards issues like this because they can expose you to new creators, artists, or characters you didn’t think were cool until the right creative team was at the helm. If you're a new reader and unsure of what to read, maybe start with books like this and get a little taste of every flavor.
Eight Billion Genies: Wishworld #1
I started collecting comics a little over a year ago when I came home from Jamaica in the summer of 2022. I was living in midtown Manhattan, and I'd walk a few blocks to 40th Street to Midtown Comics to peruse the new releases. My first time in the shop I was overwhelmed and thrilled at the massive wall of new releases in front of me. Out of the hundreds of comics, a second print edition of Eight Billion Genies caught my eye. I didn't know what "Image Comics" was or that there were good comic books outside of Marvel and DC. So I picked it up on a whim and over the course of eight issues was enchanted by the tale of a dystopian world wished into dissaray. If every human being on the planet was given a genie, would the world become a better place or would we be undone by our dark desires? At New York Comic Con this year, Charles Soule announced the release of a limited-edition story within the Eight Billion Genies universe called "Wishworld." I am very grateful to have secured a signed copy of this adorable one-shot about a boy and his mother who both wish for the same thing: for the young blind boy to see. What unfolds is a worthy addition to this fantastical world, a story steeped in creative ideas and virtuous lessons that may just have you crying by the end.
The Avengers #6
Now let's talk about a comeback story. Jed Mackay writes each issue of The Avengers and other titles like a piece to a greater puzzle, and it's not always clear where the story is going. It's not that this last arc of Avengers was slow, in fact, I found myself blowing through each issue so fast that at the end I was left wanting more. That's not a bad thing per se, but sometimes the faster an issue goes, the more it feels like you're not getting anything out of it. I thought maybe I would drop the series. It's difficult to trust sometimes, but holding out until issue six before I dropped this series was absolutely the right call. Jed MacKay pulled all the threads together in this issue like a master weaver spinning his tale. He manages to focus on each individual team member, highlighting their unique strengths and responses to particular threats. It's more than just MacKay's creative use of these characters that makes this series so good; it's also his use of creative concepts that keeps me coming back to his books. Like Moon Knight and the Midnight Mission, MacKay gives the Avengers a new headquarters, a sentient city called "The Impossible City," that floats in space above the Earth. Once a slave to supervillains, the Impossible City was liberated by the Avengers who then asked it to join the team. Clearly, I never should have doubted! MacKay is planning unique and grand things for Marvel's mightiest heroes, and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us. For those who want to know more about where this series is going, read MacKay's 2022 oneshot, "Timeless," a prologue to the series.
Most anticipated new releases in November
Animal Pound Ashcan
The Holy Roller #1
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